The Man from Brodney's eBook

Then, for the first time, Genevra peered in the darkness
at the figure beside her. She stared in amazement
as it sprang lightly erect and glided across to the
patch of light. It was then that she recognised
the figure of a woman—­a slight, graceful
woman in Oriental garb. The woman turned and
lifted her face to the heights from which she had descended.
In a shrill, eager voice she called out something in
a language strange to the Princess, who knelt there
and stared as if she were looking upon a being from
another world. A faint shout came from on high,
and once more the rope began to writhe.

The Princess passed her hand over her eyes, bewildered.
The face of the woman in the light, half-shaded, half-illumined,
was gloriously beautiful—­young, dark, brilliant!

“Oh!” she exclaimed, starting to her feet,
a look of understanding coming into her eyes.
This was one of the Persians! He had saved her!
A feeling of revulsion swept over her, combatting
the first natural, womanly pride in the deed of a
brave man.

Chase struggled weakly to his feet. He saw the
tense, strained figure before him, and, putting out
his hand, said:

“She is Selim’s wife. I am stronger
than he, so I brought her down.” Then looking
upward anxiously, he shouted:

“Be careful, Selim! It’s easy if
you take your time to it.”

CHAPTER XX

NEENAH

“Selim’s wife, Neenah, saved my life.”
It was the next morning and Chase was relating his
experiences to an eager marvelling company in the
breakfast room. “She has a sister whose
husband was one of the leaders in the attack.
Neenah told Selim and Selim told me. That’s
all. We were prepared for them when they came
last night. Days ago, Selim and I cached the
rope at the top of the cliff, anticipating just such
an emergency as this, and intending to use it if we
could reach the chateau in no other way. I figured
that they would cut off all other means of getting
into your grounds.

“Neenah came up from the village ahead of the
attacking party, out of breath and terribly frightened.
We didn’t waste a second, let me tell you.
Grabbing up our guns, we got out through the rear and
made a dash across the stable yard. It was near
midnight. I had received the committee at nine
and had given them my reasons for not resigning the
post. They went away apparently satisfied, which
aroused my suspicions. I knew that there was
something behind that exhibition of meekness.

“The servants, all of whom were up and ready
to join in the fight, attempted to head us off.
We had a merry little touch of real warfare just back
of the stables. It was as dark as pitch, and I
don’t believe we hit anybody. But it was
lively scrambling for a minute or two, let me tell
you.” Chase shook his head in sober recollection
of the preliminary affray.

Deppingham’s big blue eyes were fairly snapping.
His wife put her hand on his shoulder with an impulse
strange to her and Genevra saw a light blaze in her
eyes. “I hope you potted a few of ’em.
Serve ’em jolly well right if——­”